Numbers 23:1-6

Balaam's Oracles

1 Then Balaam said to Balak, "Build me seven altars here and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me."
2 So Balak did as Balaam directed, and they offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
3 Balaam said to Balak, "Stay here by your burnt offering while I am gone. Maybe the Lord [a] will meet with me. I will tell you whatever He reveals to me." So he went to a barren hill.
4 God[b] met with him and Balaam said to Him, "I have arranged seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
5 Then the Lord put a message in Balaam's mouth and said, "Return to Balak and say what I tell you."
6 So he returned to Balak, who was standing there by his burnt offering with all the officials of Moab.

Numbers 23:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 23

This chapter gives an account of the sacrifices offered by Balak and Balaam, and how God met Balsam, and put a word into his mouth, which he delivered in the presence of the king of Moab and his princes, Nu 23:1-7, the substance of which are, the separate state and condition of Israel from other nations, their number, and the happiness of the righteous at death, Nu 23:8-10, which made Balak uneasy, since instead of cursing he blessed Israel, and therefore he had him to another place to take a view of the people, Nu 23:11-13 where having offered sacrifices, another word was put into the mouth of Balaam, and which he also delivered before the king and his nobles, Nu 23:14-18, in which were expressed the unchangeableness of God, the irreversibleness of the blessing of Israel, the strength, safety, happiness, and glory of that people, Nu 23:19-24 which made Balak more uneasy still; but willing to try him a third time, he carried him to another place, and there built altars, and offered sacrifices, the consequence of which is related in the next chapter, Nu 23:25-30.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. DSS, LXX, Sam read Maybe God
  • [b]. DSS, Sam read The Angel of God
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